This is from a 1974 Columbo episode called “Swan Song,” guest starring Johnny Cash. Actually it’s a Johnny Cash gospel song from 1966, I Saw the Light–and the lyrics are spot on. The backup is a little overproduced for my taste, but it’s a catchy tune with Johnny Cash’s voice and, most importantly, a solid Christian message.

Phoebe, you asked for a rousing version of this hymn, and this is it: Your Grace and Mercy Brought Me Through, sung by the Mississippi Mass Choir. The soloist is the late Frank Williams. I noticed this video has over 4 million views.

Your hymn request came along just in time. I haven’t written up any news today, yet. Maybe I’ll just let the hymn deliver Good News.

These, our brothers and sisters in Christ, forced into a shelter by the floods in Texas, have broken into song in praise of the Lord. Now that’s spirit! Thanks, Susan, for calling our attention to this video. These folks have set a great example to us all. Praise the Lord when the chips are down! ‘Cause that’s when you need it most.

This is the rousing gospel song that’s been on my mind these past two days–and who better to sing it than Mahalia Jackson? Here she is in 1957 on the Nat King Cole Show.

You may want to turn up the volume for this. Yeah, I know, I say that almost all the time. Well, I’m not going to post stuff for which I recommend we turn down the volume, am I? Anyway, here’s one of our national treasures singing a hymn to wake us wide-awake!

I don’t know anything about this praise and worship song, other than it was written by Linda Lee Johnson in 1979 and a lot of people seem to like it. Also, it echoes one of my favorite passages of Scripture, Ephesians 6:10-17–which begins:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.